Pelds Design Services is a client-first firm focused on building long-term partnerships. Our goal is to become a trusted partner in every planning, site, or building project you undertake. We offer a variety of design services to assist you during the entire life of your project.

It all started in 1952 when Aivars Leo Pelds was taking his first mechanical engineering class at Iowa State College. On the first day, his instructor asked the class to draw—with excruciatingly tiresome detail—the threads of a screw.

As Leo glanced forlornly out the window at the fine autumn day, the instructor declared, “Get used to doing this. This is what you will be doing the rest of your life.” Leo noticed that outside the window, a land surveying class was enjoying the beautiful day as they learned their trade. Longing to be outdoors rather than trapped inside throughout his career, he switched curricula to civil engineering and land surveying.

After completing his training, Leo served as city engineer for the city of Urbandale, Iowa, and worked in the private sector. After more than a decade, he set out to work on his own and established A. Leo Pelds Engineering Company. Since then, the firm has served a diverse array of clients, including federal, state, and municipal entities as well as private developers and landowners.

The firm added architecture to its list of offerings in 2018, creating more opportunities to work with clients throughout the entirety of the building process. In 2019, the company changed its name to Pelds Design Services as a better reflection of the complete services offered.

Pelds Design Services now provides planning, architectural, civil engineering, and land surveying services throughout Iowa and neighboring states. Our leadership has remained within the Pelds family, with three of Leo’s four children taking on ownership and management roles in recent years. For almost 50 years, our approach has remained simple:

“Deliver on the promise. Nothing less will do.”

• EXCELLENT SERVICE. We strive to go above and beyond our contractual duty. A handshake seals our promise to deliver and sets the foundation of a valued relationship.

• INTEGRITY. We are dedicated to maintaining the highest ethical standards. We stand by our word and conduct all business transactions with integrity.

• FAITH. We believe that nothing is possible without the blessing of God. We seek to honor Him in life and in business.

• FAMILY. We treasure our families and seek to provide a work environment that promotes opportunities for our employees to cherish quality family time.